Mealworms are mostly nocturnal and prefer a dark environment.
Mealworms prefer to have their body in contact with an object. They do not enjoy open space.
Mealworms eat flour, oatmeal, bran, grain or cereal, potato slices, apple slices, grapes and small carrots.
They live best in well-ventilated containers with large surface areas and smooth sides, preferably cardboard boxes which are not prone to mold.
Mealworms are the larva form of the mealworm beetle, the second stage of their development into a beetle.
A mealworm develops 6 legs.
Mealworms have exoskeletons.
Mealworms are rarely solitary, where there is one there quite often is many (in terms of infestation).
Mealworms are most lively and active when exposed to warm temperatures (21-26 celsius). Exposing mealworms to cooler temperatures will cause their activity to reduce significantly. Therefore, if you notice your mealworms are not moving, don't worry! When a mealworm dies, it will turn black and become brittle. To liven your mealworms up, simply place them in a warm environment for 30-60 minutes.
Stage One: Egg - The female beetle will lay around 275 eggs that are 1 mm long and will take 4 weeks to hatch. Stage Two: Larva - Depending on conditions, this stage will take between 3 to 10 weeks. As they eat they become too large for their hard exo-skeletons and shed their skin several times. Stage Three: The pupal stage lasts about 3 weeks. The mealworm will do a complete metamorphosis into the beetle. Stage Four: When the adult beetle first comes out of the pupa it is a grey colour and eventually turns brown and then finally black. It has wings but cannot fly and will live for 3 to 4 weeks. The female will lay eggs before she dies and the life cycle starts over again.
Stage One: Egg - The female beetle will lay around 275 eggs that are 1 mm long and will take 4 weeks to hatch.
Stage Two: Larva - Depending on conditions, this stage will take between 3 to 10 weeks. As they eat they become too large for their hard exo-skeletons and shed their skin several times.
Stage Three: The pupal stage lasts about 3 weeks. The mealworm will do a complete metamorphosis into the beetle.
Stage Four: When the adult beetle first comes out of the pupa it is a grey colour and eventually turns brown and then finally black. It has wings but cannot fly and will live for 3 to 4 weeks. The female will lay eggs before she dies and the life cycle starts over again.
http://www.mr-strauss.com/MealwormLifeCycle.html